First Nordic hospital establishes quantum-secure network

For the first time, GlobalConnect is launching a quantum-secure network connection for a customer in the Nordics. In collaboration with Norsk helsenett, the company will conduct a pilot project to test how to protect sensitive health data at a hospital near Oslo against future threats from quantum computers.

Akershus University Hospital near Oslo is now the first hospital in the Nordics to guard itself against future threats from quantum computers. This is the result of a new pilot project between GlobalConnect and Norsk helsenett, who provides digital solutions for the Norwegian healthcare sector.

Specifically, GlobalConnect is establishing a quantum-safe network that adds an extra layer of security to prevent cybercriminals from intercepting data now and decrypting it at a later stage when quantum computers reach sufficient capacity to break existing encryption.

GlobalConnect is already involved in several Nordic pilot projects involving quantum-safe networks, but this marks the first time they are launching a quantum-safe connection for a customer and can test on live data.

“Quantum computers pose one of the most alarming future cyber threats, and we are strongly committed to securing our customers against it, strengthening the Nordics' digital resilience, and protecting critical services. The healthcare sector handles large amounts of highly sensitive data that retains value for many years, making it an attractive target for malicious actors. This pilot project gives us all valuable experience with how quantum security works in practice,” says Martin Lippert, CEO in GlobalConnect Group.

The first hospital is just the beginning
Specifically, the project involves installing QKD equipment on a data connection between Akershus University Hospital and a nearby data center. Using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), equipment at each location generates and exchanges encryption keys based on the laws of physics rather than mathematics. Any attempt to eavesdrop on the connection is detected immediately, and the key exchange is theoretically secure and independent of future technological breakthroughs.

Through the pilot project, which runs until April 2027, Norsk Helsenett will build knowledge, gain practical experience, and prepare for a potential expansion of quantum-safe infrastructure throughout the rest of the healthcare sector.

“With this pilot project, we will test quantum infrastructure to gain greater insight and experience. The goal is to ensure that the sector is best equipped against the future threat from quantum computers. It is crucial that the healthcare service can continue to deliver safe and efficient digital services to citisens and healthcare personnel in the future,” says Johan Ronæs, CEO in Norsk Helsenett.

Background: Quantum computers and encryption
A significant part of today's internet encryption is based on specific mathematical problems, such as the factorisation of enormous numbers, which makes encryption difficult for classical computers to break. Quantum computers possess enough computing power to be able to solve these mathematical problems significantly faster, thereby decrypting information that is currently considered secure.

The threat is two-fold:

• Harvest now, decrypt later: Data is intercepted today and can be decrypted in the future using quantum computers.
• Real, future attacks: Quantum computers could enable advanced manipulation attacks that threaten e.g. patient safety.

Quantum-safe networks and QKD are among the most promising measures to counter this threat. Although no one can predict an exact date, international experts estimate that powerful quantum computers could pose a real threat to current encryption within the next decade. Therefore, it is recommended that sectors handling data with a long lifespan, such as the healthcare sector, prepare with quantum-safe solutions today.